One of the treasures of the Sandwich Range - and indeed of all the White Mountains - is the glacial cirque enclosed by Mt. Whiteface, Mt. Passaconaway and the Wonalancet Range, known as The Bowl. This deep valley shows no signs of logging, ever, and its floor, at an elevation of 2000-2400 ft., is home to a large stand of old growth hardwoods. Credit for saving this tract from logging in the early 1900s goes to Kate Sleeper Walden and others from the Wonalancet Out Door Club. The Bowl, seen here from the uppermost outlook on the Blueberry Ledge Trail on Mt. Whiteface, is now protected as a Research Natural Area within the Sandwich Range Wilderness. Over the years a number of research projects have been conducted in this unique area.
Another good view of The Bowl is found at an outlook along the Rollins Trail, on the northernmost hump of Whiteface.
I've made several journeys into The Bowl, always in winter, when bushwhacking impact is minimal and there would be no disturbance of research projects. A favorite objective is a ledge on the sidewall with a more intimate view over the valley. In January 1998 I visited this spot with Mike Dickerman, Creston Ruiter and Roger Doucette just three days before the epochal ice storm that devastated parts of the Northeast. When the storm hit we feared for the hardwoods on the floor of The Bowl. Though there was significant damage on the middle elevations of the Dicey's Mill Trail,the old trees in the valley came through relatively unscathed.
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The experts say that one sign of old growth hardwood is a gnarled crown.
In this lower part of the valley the snow was mostly firm, making for great snowshoeing. Farther up the snow was softer and the going more laborious.
The valley is drained by the Wonalancet River, which is really a brook. It never seems to freeze well, and in this up-and-down winter it is wide-open, with its mossy rocks on display.
On the north side was a rock overhang with its own ice formation.
I struggled up the steep slope on the north side, gaining a side view partway up.
As I worked my way up, I came to the edge of a narrow parallel slide a short distance north of the main slide.
The snow was deep and soft in here, and there was some thick spruce, one of which gave me a good whack in the eye.
I wanted to get to the top of the lower open part of the main slide, but a small band of ice-draped ledge extended through the woods between the two icy slides. Without crampons and ice axe there was no way to continue up, and I am not a climber anyway. So I settled for an open spot atop the main ice cliff, where I could look up at the top of the open slide.
I carefully worked down to a peek over the crest of the ice cliff.
Here there was a view east over the valley to Hibbard Mtn., with Wonalancet Hedgehog peering over on the left.
I found a safe flat spot to sit on my pack for a late lunch. When I first arrived I hoped to get out to the flat bulge at the top of the picture, but there was glare water ice under a couple of inches of snow. No way!
A big rock and big trees.
Boulders strewn in the slide track.
An Ent-moot in The Bowl?
Tracks on the valley floor. Fisher?
The Wonalancet River flows down through The Bowl, with a hint of spring in the air - in mid-February!
That ice cliff is simply awesome!
ReplyDeleteYour photo of the icy ramp that leads up towards the ice cliff reminded me of a similar-appearing ramp which you & I saw couple of years ago when we explored a portion of the headwall in the Coppermine col area.
John
1HappyHiker
Steve,
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating place. I'm glad it will remain wild and protected - thanks for sharing the great photos!
John and Chris,
ReplyDeleteThanks - we'll have to go in there sometime, there are a couple more interesting spots to visit.
Steve